CHRISTMAS shoppers have been pondering the good and bad points of ordering online after waiting for hours to collect their parcels.

A surge in online buying by people usually at work when the postman calls has meant a backlog of undelivered items.

Those who had to endure lengthy delays at the Liverpool Road delivery office told the Star of their experiences.

“On Saturday morning the queue was half way down Liverpool Road,” said one man who had returned to collect items on Tuesday afternoon.

Nikki Owen wrote on the Star’s Facebook page: “I waited for an hour and half on Saturday. More people are buying online. People were queueing up for packages for an hour only to find they weren’t available. We also had something delivered on Sunday so they are clearly working hard.”

The Star understands extra staff have been deployed in the delivery office.

Carly Hughes said: “If people order parcels and know when they’re due it’s their fault if they have to queue.”

Royal Mail spokesman Mike Norman said: “Royal Mail has a range of measures this Christmas to help customers receive their parcels as quickly and conveniently as possible.

“We are able to leave items with a neighbour if no one is at home during the day when our postmen and women try to deliver something that needs a signature or is too big for the letterbox.

“We are extending the opening hours of the busiest offices from 6.30am to 7.30pm on weekdays and 6.30am to 5.30pm on Saturday.

"Customers have the option of collecting their item or can request to have it redelivered to their home. We apologise to customers if they experienced difficulties.”